A young man who was found lying on a highway bus lane with ultimately fatal head injuries was likely hit by a vehicle, a coroner has found.
The death of Samuel Timothy Brown, 20, more than 11 years ago has been the subject of a failed police prosecution of a taxi driver, whose hit-and-run charge in 2015 was withdrawn in court with no evidence submitted.
Queensland Coroners Court previously heard evidence from a physician and trauma expert who said Mr Brown's injuries were caused by an armed assault by a group of unknown persons or one of his friends.
Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher on Thursday handed down findings that accepted evidence from three other experts and found Mr Brown's death was on the balance of probabilities, caused by a motor vehicle collision while he was a pedestrian.
"It is possible that he had collapsed or passed out on the roadway and a vehicle drove over him ... or that he was sitting on the road and was sideswiped by a passing vehicle," Ms Gallagher stated.
Mr Brown attended a birthday party for a friend on November 24, 2012 in the Gold Coast suburb of Mermaid Waters.
Mr Brown drank heavily at the party and became separated from another friend while the pair attempted to walk to a neighbouring suburb.
About 2.25am next day, Mr Brown was found lying on his back in the middle of the northbound bus lane on the Gold Coast Highway.
Mr Brown had suffered a severe fracture to the right base of his skull, fractures to his jaw and left cheekbone along with abrasions to his shoulders and internal bruising to his left chest.
He died later at the Gold Coast Hospital.
Ms Gallagher on Thursday closed the inquest without making any recommendations to prevent deaths in similar circumstances.
"Given the differences of opinion by various medical experts, as well as the opinion of an experienced crash investigator, it is difficult to determine exactly what happened to (Mr Brown)," she said.
